Arsenal star shocked by suggestions Arsene Wenger should be sacked

Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen says he is shocked by suggestions that Arsene Wenger should be sacked.

The Gunners boss is under intense pressure after seeing his side’s FA Cup and Champions League hopes all but ended within the space of four days.

A shock 1-0 defeat in the FA Cup against Championship outfit Blackburn was followed by Tuesday’s 3-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich in the first-leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Asked if he was shocked Wenger’s future is being questioned, Vermaelen said: “I am actually. Everyone in football looks too short term.

“They don’t look at the long term and he’s done a lot for this club. He is the right man for this club and we are all behind him.”

Arsenal are now almost certain to go an eighth successive season without a trophy, while the club trail rivals Tottenham by four points in the race for a place in the Premier League top four.

The North London outfit were embarrassingly knocked out of the League Cup semi-final by League Two Bradford City, but talisman Jack Wilshere has insisted Wenger, 63, is not to blame for the team’s disappointing performances.

Belgian defender Vermaelen agreed, saying: “We have to show it on the pitch as well. At the moment the results are not good. But we will work hard with him to get the results back.”

“It doesn’t mean that because it’s not going well at the moment we don’t stand behind him.”

The defender has also asked that the club’s fans stay patient despite the poor run of form.

“The fans must not forget that we need them because they belong to the team and to the club,” he said.

“Sometimes, as a player, you are frustrated as well. If you lose you get frustrated but it’s not the right thing to act on. We have to stick together, work hard. We need each other.

“Of course we are not happy. Don’t look at each other, don’t blame each other, work hard every day to get the results back.”